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By Neto Baptiste
The Antigua and Barbuda Master Blasters will take on Virgin Islands in a must-win showdown this afternoon, as the home team hunts a spot in Sunday’s final of the Cool & Smooth sponsored Leeward Islands T20 Festival at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
The teams are set to clash in the feature match of a double-header, slated to start at 7:00 pm at the North Sound venue with Antigua and Barbuda, on eight points from four matches, needing to win in order to join the unbeaten Anguilla in the final.
Chief organiser of the tournament, Dario Barthley, expressed satisfaction in the competitive nature displayed by the teams thus far.
“We’re very happy in terms of the results and performances by each team but Anguilla, after beating Antigua in that thriller in the middle of the week, leads the pack so they are already qualified for the final. The format is that one and two will play in the final and two and four will play for the third place trophy so Anguilla is qualified for the final on 16 points because while Antigua can catch them, Antigua are currently on 12 points; there is no other team that can get to 16,” he said.
A win for the Master Blasters will move them to 16 points and into the final slated to bowl off at 3:45 pm at the North Sound venue.
Barthley explained why Sunday’s final is no longer scheduled to play under lights.
“As we know, we had a late release of the exact schedule due to the lights at the stadium and it’s really a situation that has to be managed throughout. We don’t believe that the lights are getting any better and we don’t want to put too much stress on them ahead of the CPL and other engagements the stadium has. In working with the stadium, we decided on this schedule so that it works out for everyone. We wanted there to be some night cricket. We wanted people to have the opportunity to come out and watch Antigua play under lights but at the same time, we have to be cognisant of the national cricket product we are trying to produce and CPL is obviously a very important step in that process,” the Antiguan said.
The administrator stopped short of predicting a turnout for Sunday but encouraged all Antiguans and cricket lovers to show support for their favourite teams.
“We’re encouraged by the turnout that has been there, given the circumstances, so we want to make a big push for this weekend. It’s a tournament that we hold in very high regard and it’s a very prestigious tournament given the level it’s being done at. … I think that the teams are very happy to be taking part in it so going forward we will see an increase. This weekend, I don’t want to give a specific anticipation because we want all of Antigua to come out,” Barthley said.
Also playing today, Nevis will face St Kitts at 11:00 am and Combined Islands play Anguilla at 3:00 pm.
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